Apparatus for removing dust by pneumatic suction.



No. 893,853. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

W. LOGKB & B. B. DUNN.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST BY PNEUMATIC SUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

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wmvmsas: I INVENTORS PATENTEDJULY 21, 1908. W. LOGKE & E. B. DUNN.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST BY PNEUMATIC SUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: 1 '7 NM W 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED JULY 21 INVENTOHS 0, 0 o o o o 0 4 o 0 44 womo WW 0 o 0 0 00 w o 0 DO I 0 0 W. LO0KE& E. B. DUNN. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST BY PNEUMATIC SUCTION APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

WITNESSES:

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DU BY PNBUM A TIG SUCTION.

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I I I INVENT ORS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LOCKE, OF WESTFIELD, AND ELIAS B. DUNN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VACUUM ENGINEERING COMPANY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DUST BY PNEUMATIC SUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 19085 Application filed March 9, 1906. Serial No. 305,015.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM LooKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of estfield, county of Union, State of New J ersey, and ELIAS B. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange,

H Briefly stated, our invention relates to improvements in the apparatus for producing a pneumatic suction for the purpose stated," and comprises a device of the nature of a.

pump, which is provided with a certain construction whereby the parts thereof are completely protected from the action of the dirt or dust passing through the same, and whereby the dust laden air may be taken directlyinto the suction apparatus, thus avoiding the necessity of using costly and unde-' sirable separating apparatus for extracting the dust and dirt from the air.-

This construction embodies a reciprocating plunger or piston located in a piston chamber above the body of a liquid, such as water, through which the dust laden air or air and water is drawn by the plunger or iston, said plunger or piston being completely protected by means of an apron cooperating with the plunger, said liquid being so placed and arrangedin relation to the plunger that there is no hindrance or impediment, either to the action of the plunger or to the air passing through and mixing with the liquid.

A further object of our invention invo vedf in the construction referred to is to prevent the possibility of serious explosion by the ignition of the fine particles of dust in rapid motion, by thoroughly absorbing them in the liquid. 1

The apparatus above briefly referred to produces a vacuum, or partial vacuum, which is transmitted through suitable conduits or pipes from a suction nozzle, which is passed over the surface to be cleaned, so that the dust and air or dust, air and water which are caused to enter the nozzle, by means of the suction, are carried through the conduits to the suction devicewherethey become mixed with the liquid, some of the mixture conit taining a slight amount of liquid and dust bein e'ected in a more or less foam. condi tion and fresh liquid being at'the same time continuall supplied to replace the liquid discharged either as foam or through the li uid out-let.

or a full, clear, and exact description of this form of our invention, reference may be had to the following description, together with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the pump or suction device, taken at right anles to the'crank shaft, and on the line A-B,

Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pum taken parallel with the crank shaft, an on the line C-D, Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken throughthe li uid or absorbing chamber, and substantial y on the line EF, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the suction device showin the means for controlling the fiuidsu p and taken on the line H J, Fig. 5; 1g. 5 is a horizontal sec.

tional view taken on the line KL, Fig. 4. Fig, 6 is a sectional elevation of a building showing the complete apparatus in operation.

In Fig. 1, the numeral 1 indicates the liquid 0r saturating chamber filled with water or other suitable liquid. A vacuum, or partial vacuum, is created above the surface of this liquid by means of a reciprocating piston 3 in the chamber 2. The air intake ports 4 are provided with automatic valves 5, and

which we have shown in the form of ball valves, the said ports being connected with suitable conduits or pipes 6, through which the dust-laden air or air and water is carried to the absorbing chamber 1. Inthe upper portion of the liquid or saturating chamber 1, we rovide baffle-plates 7, through the small pe orations or holes of which the dust, air and water must ass, thereby being thor- 'oughly mixed wit 1 the ligfiiid, so thatjthe dustis caught and held by e latter, the discharge of light portions of the mixture taking place through suitable ail-passages 8. These,

air-passages, in this instance, are formed in .during the downward strokeof the piston,

but are closed duringthe upward stroke of the same. The air-passagesc8 communicate with the passage 8, formed by a hood at the piston 3 itself, theair-passages 8 being into the suction device,

. less than that of the piston 3 projects into tached to .the iston 3 and which terminates in a cylindrica discharge-port adapted to reciprocate in an opening in the top of the casin of the suction device, as indicated at 40.

11 order to protect thebearing surface of the piston 3 and the surface of the piston casing 10 from the dirt or gritwhich is drawn a long cylindrical apron is provided," which is preferably attached or made a part of the piston 3 and pro'ects' therefrom into the'liquid contained int e, saturating chamber 1. ,This apron is there beinglino interposed partition or other devices w ch would 1 prevent the freest passage of the air from the liquid to the space eneath the piston 3. It. should also be noted that the'surface of the liquid or absorbing chamber 1 is slightly-greater diameter, than that of the piston chamber, and that the diameter of the apron 11-is slightly This provides a space between the apron and the walls of the liquidchamber,so that any foreign mat-' ter that adheres to the apron 11'as it rises from the absorbingfluid may be retained by the liquid and will not be transmitted to the bearing surfaces between the'piston and its casing. The piston-rod 14 is attached to the center of the piston 3 and projects through a stuffing-box 13 and is connected to a crank 15 by means of aconnectin rod or pitman '16. The crank 15 is carried by the crankshaft 30. The end of the iston-rod 14 is guided by means of a suitab e cross-head 17 adapted to reciprocate in the cylindrical openinglin the liquid chamberfl.

' ton 3,

liquid cham er 1, and t Byt e construction just described, it will be seen that a reci rocating motion is given to the piston 3, w li through the ipes 6, through the water in the rough thebaflieduring the upward motion of the piswhileduring the downward motion of the piston, the air andportions of the mixture are ex elled-through the valve ports 8 and throng the discharge passages 8.

Attached to the cover 39 of the piston casing 18, is a pi e connection 41, which communicates wit the opening 40, and is of plates,

sufficient height to allow the cylindricalportion of the ischarge passage 8 to reciprocate within it. This pipe 41 may communicate with a suitable noise-mufiiing and set- .tling device, as shown at 36 in Fig. 6. A rotary motion may be imparted to the crank by tend to rotate the liquid same, together with the dust-laden air, in a motion by means of a crank arm ereby the air is drawn tended t rough on each floor, to which the flexible conduit or urating' chamber and a,

shaft- 30 by means of any suitable source of motive power, but for convenience of illustr-ation we have shown an electric motor 31,

located on the same bed or base 32with the suction device. 1

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the casings of the air inlet ports 4 are directed laterally in opposite directions, which thereand move the circular path, which further aids in the comlete. absorption of the dust particles by the i uid.

- t is obvious that the fluid in the absorbing chamber would soon become depleted and more or less completely saturated and thickened by the dust and dirt constantly being drawn into it, unless'the said liquid is constantly renewed during the operation of the apparatus. For this purposewe have prov1 ed a continuous supply of liquid through ed with a vertical portion 19, in

' a supply dpipe 34, Fig. 2. The supplypipe 34 is provi which is placed an automatically operated valve 2Q. :The movable member .of this valve 20-is given aperiodic, reciprocating 21. carried by the same, said crank arm being connected with an eccentric 28,. carried on-the crank shaft 30, by means of a pitman or connectingrod 22. It will be seen that each revolution of the crank-shaft'30 opens and closes the valve 20, thereby allowing a certain definite amount of the'liquid to enter the liquid chamher -1 at each strokeof'the piston '3. 'A similar'arrangement also allows someof the liquid mixed with the dust to be discharged through the drain pipe 33 if necessary, for which purpose the upwar extension24 of the drain pipe 33 is provided with a valve 25 operated y means ofa crank 36 connected with an eccentric 28 on the crank-shaft 30by a connectin rod 27. -By suitable adjustment of the va ves 20 and 25, the liquid in the chamher 1 is maintained at, a substantially constant level, which level may be ascertained by means of a suitable water-glass or gage 35, placed In Fi on the outside of the casing 18. 6"the intake pipe 6 is shown exa building, with outlet taps We believe that we are the first to devise a suction cleaning apparatus comprising a satiston chamber, wherein the dust laden air is firstthoroughly mixed or saturated with liquid,-without the use of separators for preventing the dust and dirt passing to the suction apparatus, the dust, dirt and-air being discharged directly from said a paratus.

Having t us described one form of our invention, it will be evident that we do not de-.

sire to be limited to the exact details of construction set forth, for various changes may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from" the spirit and scope of our invention.

What-we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a liquid saturating chamber having an intake orifice therein situatedbelow the normal level of the liquid, a piston chamber, a reciprocatingpiston therein acting to create a suction above said level.

whereby dirt, air and liquid are' drawn through the saturating chamber, outlet orifices for discharging lighter portions ofthe mixture and for dirt and liquid, and means for controlling the flow through said orifices.-

2. Ina pneumatic suction cleaning appa- -.ratus, the combination of a piston cham and a saturating chamber opening into said a piston chamber, a piston in said piston chamer operating to draw the mixture above the {normal level of liquid in said saturatin chamber, air' inlet conduits entering sai level of said'liquid out of'contact with said saturating chamber below-the normal level of theliquid, discharge conduits above the level of the liquid, means for reci rocating said piston, and valves 'for contro lin'g the flow through said saturating chamber.

n a pneumatic suction cleaning ap aratus, the combination of a piston cham er and a saturating chamber communicating" with said iston chamber, dust absorbing liquid in sald saturating chamber, a piston in said chamber, means for maintaining the piston, 'air' inlet conduits in said mixing chamber below the level of the liquid, discharge conduits above the level of said liquid,

means for reciprocating said piston, and

means for controlling the flow t I ough said saturating chamber.

4. In a pneumatic suction cleaning appaer ratus, the combination of a piston cham and a saturating. chamber adapted to contain a dust absorbing liquid and communicating directly'with sald piston chamber, the inlet to said saturating chamber being below the "normal level of theliquid therein, a piston in said piston chamber acting to create a suction above said level to draw dust, air and liquid through the saturating chamber,

means for reciprocating the piston, and means for controllin'g'the flow through said saturat- -ing chamber. a

. said piston chain er, dust absorbing liquid in said'saturatmg chamber, a piston in said pis 5, In a pneumatic suction cleaning appa am er ratus, the combination of a piston oh and asaturatin chamber connected with ton chamber acting to create a suction above the level of the liquid, an apron or guard member extending into the liquidfrom said means V 7. In a pneumatic suction cleaning appa er piston, means for reciprocatin said piston and suitable means for contro ling. the flow through said chamber.

6. In a pneumatic suction cleaning ap aratus, the combination of a piston cham er and a saturating chamber directly connected with said piston chamber, dust absorbing liquid in said saturating chamber, a piston in said iston chamber acting above the level of said iquid, baiiie plates located within said saturating chamber and below the surface of said liquid, air ports entering said saturating chamber below the level of said li uid, air

discharge ports, means for control ing the dischar e from said saturating chamber, and

f or reciprocating the piston.

ratus, the combination of a piston'cham and a saturating chamber'connected with said piston chamber, dust absorbing liquid n said saturating chamber, a piston in said pis-' "ton chamber operatin to withdraw the mixture from above the level of said liquid, an apron or guard member attached to the lower side of said piston and extending into the liquid, and means for reciprocating the piston.

' 8. In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a piston chamber, a saturating chamber connected therewith adapted to contain a dust absorbing liquid, a non-submerged iston in said piston chamber, an inlet or' ce therein below the surface of said liquid, means for controlling the flow throughsaid saturating chamber and through the liquid therein, means for reciprocating said p ston, fluid su ply and discharge conduits connected wit said saturating cham-' -ton, liquid supply and discharge conduits connected wit saidsaturating chamber,

valves in said conduits, and means connectmg sald valves and said reciprocatlng means for automatically controlling the level and {)he supply of liquid in-said saturating cham- In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a piston cham er and a saturating chamber directly connected therewith and adapted to contain a .dust' absorbing liquid, a piston in said iston chamberacting to withdraw the mixture abovethe normal level of said liquid, said saturating chamber havingair assages o below t e erating' respectively. above an level of the liquid therein, valves in said passages, means for supplying liquid to said saturating chamber and for automatically maintaining a definite; level of the liquid therein, and means for reciprocating said piston.

11. In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a saturating chamber, a piston chamber, .a nonsubmerged reciprocating piston therein, an apron inter posed between the saturating chamber and the piston chamber, and means for reciproeating the piston, substantially as set forth.

12. In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a saturating chamber, a piston chamber, a non-submerged reciprocating piston having air discharge passages therein, valves in said air discharge passages, an apron inte osed between the saturating chamber and t e piston chamber, and means for reciprocating the piston, substantially as set forth.

13; In a pneumatic suction cleaning appa ratus, the combination of a saturating cham-' ber, submerged intake orifices, valves in said intake orifices, a plston chamber, a non-submerged reciprocating piston therein, an

apron inter osed between the saturating c amber an the piston chamber, and means for-reciprocating the piston, substantially as set fort 14. In a pneumatic suction cleaning appa-- ratus, the combination of a saturatlng chain ber, submerged intake orifices, valves in said intake orifices, perforated diaphragm interposed between intake orifices and reciproeating piston, the piston chamber, a nonsubmerged reciprocating piston, air disasset charge passages through i said piston, an apron interposed between the saturating c amber and the piston chamber, and means for reci rocating the piston,.substantially as 'set forth.

15. In a pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus the combination of a saturating chamtrolling the fluid supply, mechanical means merged reciprocating piston, an apron interthe piston chamber and means for imparting forth. V

16. Ina pneumatic suction cleaning apparatus, the combination of a saturating cham her, a fluid discharge connection, a valve controlling 'the fluid discharge, mechanical means for automaticallyoperating the fluid discharge valve, a piston chamber, a 'nonsubmerged reciprocating piston, an apron interposed between the saturating chamber and the piston chamber, and means for imparting motion to the said parts, substantiallyas set forth. i I In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

f Dated, N. Y. March 8, 1906.

WILLIAM LOCKE, ELIAS B. DUNN.-

Witnesses:

WM. GOLDBURG, JoI-IN GOLDBURG.

her, a fluid supply connection, a valve confor automatically operating the fluid controlling valve, a piston chamber, a non-subposed between the saturating chamber'and" motion to the said part substantially as set 

